Wednesday, December 28, 2016

I remember seeing it in South Laguna and sure wish I was 30 years younger. :)

It's regarded as one of the greatest and most realistic war movies ever made.

Acclaimed
director Oliver Stone's wartime classic Platoon landed a Best Picture
Oscar in 1987 for its gritty and disturbing depiction of life for young
soldiers serving in the Vietnam War.

And
as fans of the movie celebrate its 30th anniversary this Christmas
season, one of its stars recounts the extraordinary lengths to which
Stone pushed his cast to achieve his masterpiece - and reveals how some
actors, including Charlie Sheen, tried to quit as they were put through
their paces.

In
an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com actor Kevin Dillon, who
played Bunny in the film, detailed the brutal training regime and
preparation he and fellow stars Sheen, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Tom
Berenger and Forest Whitaker undertook to replicate the lives of US
Marines.

President Viktor Orban of Hungary, who is often compared to Donald
Trump, praised the American president-elect while addressing his
countrymen on Christmas. Orban, who deflected thousands of refugees away
from Hungary while they headed towards Germany, insisted that the
European Union must change. While reflecting on the recent terrorist
attack in Berlin that claimed 12 lives, Orban told his fellow
Hungarians, "It is unprecedented that in the heart of Europe, Christians
were murdered at Christmas."

He added, “It’s clear that, in the case of migration, nothing can
remain the way it was before." As for European Union authorities who
have countenanced the influx of more than 1 million mostly Muslim
refugees and migrants over the last 18 months, Orban said: “Brussels
needs to change, migrants who entered Europe illegally must be deported,
the borders need to be protected and the inflow of migrants has to be
eliminated.”

Moreover, Orban said that the election of Donald Trump in the United States signals a coming year of significant change.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said it was Hillary Clinton's "own words" that sunk her run for the presidency, not WikiLeaks' decision to publish them.

"What is the allegation here exactly?" Assange asked in response to a question in an interview
with the Italian newspaper la Repubblica about whether he had done a
"hit job" on Clinton. "We published what the Democratic National
Committee, John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's
campaign manager, and Hillary Clinton herself were saying about their
own campaign, which the American people read and were very interested to
read, and assessed the elements and characters, and then they made a
decision," Assange said. "That decision was based on Hillary Clinton's
own words, her campaign manager's own words. That's democracy."

The sore losers of the 2016 presidential election have now
soured upon the Electoral College. Having gone through the first two of
the five stages of grief — denial and anger — the left is now plotted
firmly in the “bargaining” stage, wherein the Democrats seek to change
the electoral results.

Since the election of President-elect Donald Trump, Democrats have repeatedly blamed everyone and everything for the loss of Hillary Clinton except for Clinton herself.

First,
it was the fault of the vote counting, and a recount was demanded only
to result in more votes for Trump. Then, F.B.I. Director Jim Comey was
to blame, just before the Russian government was at fault.

Now, the Electoral College, a “racist” vestige of our founding — or so the left would have you believe — is the new culprit.

Japanese
electronics company Panasonic and U.S. electric car maker Tesla said
Tuesday they plan to begin production of solar cells at a factory in
Buffalo, New York.

The
two companies said they finalized an agreement calling for Tokyo-based
Panasonic to pay capital costs for the manufacturing. Palo Alto,
California-based Tesla made a "long-term purchase commitment" to
Panasonic.

Their statement gave no financial figures.

The
factory in Buffalo is under development by SolarCity Corp., a San
Mateo, California-based solar panel company owned by Tesla. The
photovoltaic cells and modules will be used in solar panels for
non-solar roof products and solar glass tile roofs that Tesla plans to
begin making, the announcement said.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested nine Northern Virginia residents on charges of aiding the Islamic State since the terrorist group rose to power in Syria and Iraq in 2014 and launched social media propaganda to attract followers, a government message to police states.

Such
reports are designed to help state and federal agents recognize trends
in the types of individuals who are influenced by the Islamic State’s
message and how they communicate across terrorist networks.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry is finalizing a document that the Obama administration hopes will
form the basis for a UN Security Council resolution that officially
recognizes a Palestinian state before the end of Barack Obama’s term on
January 20th. This comes on the heels of the UN Security Council’s
adoption of resolution 2334 on December 23rd.

That resolution declared that all Israeli settlements in the West Bank
are illegal, it stated that the Security Council recognizes the 1967
ceasefire lines as the border between Israel and “Palestine”, and it officially gave East Jerusalem to the Palestinians.
But it stopped short of formally recognizing a Palestinian state.
Resolution 2334 speaks of a Palestinian state in the future tense, but
this new resolution that John Kerry is reportedly working on would give
immediate and permanent UN Security Council recognition to a Palestinian
state.

Remembrance

Execution of Colonel Ho Ngoc CanLast words: "If I won the war, I would not condemn you as you have condemned me.I would not humiliate you as you have humiliated me.I would not ask you questions that you asked me.I fought for the freedom of my people.I have merit and I am not guilty.No one can convict me.History will criticize you as my Communist enemy.You want to kill me, then kill me.Do not blindfold me.Down with the Communists.Long live the Republic of Viet Nam !"

Colonel CraigMandeville:

“They wanted the people to see that he was dead,” said Craig Mandeville, an American adviser to the South Vietnamese army who fought side by side with Can. “He was believed to be some sort of invincible guy. The North Vietnamese thought that, too, and I even thought that when I fought with him.”

“He said, ‘OK, the country’s fallen, but by God we’re still South Vietnamese and we’re free,’ ” Mandeville recalled. “So he went down to Chuong Tien province and rounded up all these soldiers down there to form a Free Vietnam.”

Col. Can didn’t live long after that, but the legacy of his struggle lives on.

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Core Creek Militia

==============================My sixth great grandfather, his wife, and five of his six children were killed in battle with the Tuscarora Indians at Core Creek, NC.

The Seven Blackbirds

==============================My third great grandfather was an Ensign in the Revolutionary War, and saved his unit's flag after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He was also at Kingston (Kinston), Wilmington, Charleston, Two Sisters and Augusta. He was at the defeat at Brier Creek and also Bee Creek.

Requiem Aeternam -
Eternal Rest Grant unto Them
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My second great grandfather was killed in action on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
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My great grandfather and great uncle knew all the men in the "Civil War Requiem" video as they were part of the 53rd NC which was the sole unit defending Fort Mahone. (Fort Mahone was named "Fort Damnation" by the Yankees) *Handpicked men of the 53rd (My great grandfather was one of these) made the final, night assault at Petersburg in an attempt to break Grant's line. This was against Fort Stedman which was a few miles to the slight northeast. They initially succeeded, but reinforcements drove them back. This video is made from photographs which were taken the day after the 53rd evacuated the lines the night before to begin the retreat to Appomattox. I have many more pictures taken by the same photographer, one of these shows a 14 year old boy and the other is the famous picture of the blond, handsome soldier with his musket.
===========================
*General Gordon promised the men a gold medal and 30 days leave if they accomplished their task and many years after the War my great grandfather wrote General Gordon, who was then governor of Georgia about this incident. They exchanged several letters which I have framed. See first link below.
===========================
*The Attack On Fort Stedman
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"His Colored Friends"
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Lee's Surrender
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My Black NC Kinfolks
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Punished For Being Caught!

Great Grandfather Koonce

He was a drummer boy in the WBTS, survived the War only to die a few years later. He was caught in an ice storm on his way home, but instead of seeking shelter, continued on his horse until the end. His clothes had to be cut off and he died a few days later.

Thank you

I would just like you to know how so very glad I am that I found your blog. I have learned more history from you and the many links that you post than I have from reading all my history books. I can never thank you enough for the education you are freely giving me. It is priceless. And eye opening.

Many times I will not comment, but that does not mean I am not reading and learning.

You sir, are an educator. Thank you.

PhyllisWantage, NJ

Good morning Mr. Townsend,

Just to let you know I have finally finished that massive tome on General Lee. I never knew 1/10th of what a great man he was. No wonder the South is so proud of him! So sad that we have few men of his caliber today. We need them desperately. I have learned more history through you and your blog than I thought I could ever learn. I am very grateful to you. Thank you so much for taking time to answer my e-mail. And thank you for your blog and for opening my eyes.

PhyllisWantage, NJ

".......So good to hear from you! And also so pleased you are converting more of us Yankees! You have no idea how many people you have taught. And how many are so grateful to you for showing us the truth."

Your faithful friend,

Phylis

==============================

I have also learned from Brock Townsend and two nurses lately, that appreciation expressed by someone for whom you have great respect overwhelms the lack of appreciation by some from whom you expect it. I believe that we cannot really know which small bit of help makes the life-saving difference. ﻿I may have learned more real American history on Brock's blog than in 20 years of government schooling.

I have learned more history from you than all the years I was supposed to be in school (and not out hunting or fishing).

==============================

I really must say, I like thousands of others have said, your blog is the best out there and with all of your history and experience, you should run for *president. I look forward to reading your blog every day and every day I learn from you. Thank you for the time you put into this effort .

Sincerely,

Scott Fitts

*It would have to be an improvement. :) BT

==============================

Hi Brock,

Ever since I picked up on your blog I "Knew" you were a "Gentleman of the South!" You lack the "Crassness" that is so prevalent in today's Sociopolitical arena but speak with the Firmness in Truth and Conviction of Right like the words of our Late Great President Jefferson Davis! That is Honorable.

I have been thinking about this for a while now. At first it was a very subtle notice, then it became larger as I saw more. Then it bloomed to me to be what it is. In your writings, in your Blog, Brock, "You" have written, posted and done more to eradicate the "Revisionist History" forced on us by the "Northern Aggressors,"BAR NONE!!!" The "Stars and Bars" fly High and Proud today even more thanks to your efforts!

Reading your post on 03 JUNE about the birthday of President Jefferson Davis and the "quotes" of his wa